I go to abs classes frequently and wanted to get this DVD to help mix up my routine and give me something to do if I didn't want to leave the house. I was a little disappointed in this DVD. I love Self Magazine and their workouts and the amazon reviews made it seem very promising. The routines are broken down into four separate workouts. The only one that involved any effort on my part was the Pilates-inspired section. As for the rest, the other sections would have you do too few reps, I felt, to get your muscles warmed up, let alone reshape them. I think this DVD is great for beginners. Its simple enough to follow and it won't scare you away too soon. But if you're like me and you workout on a regular basis and just want a new routine, this probably isn't the abs workout for you.
Love it!
I love ab work and I've been a fan of Violet Zaki since Crunch's "Cardio Sculpt" so I had high expectations for this workout. It did not disappoint me.
The workout begins with a warm-up that includes standing ab work with a dumbbell. Standing work is my least favorite approach to abs, but I thoroughly enjoy this routine.
The second series is stability ball with a variety of standing and floor exercises. I especially like the reverse crunches with the ball held between your legs. I can really feel it working my lower abs.
Both the warm-up and the stability ball sections include some lunges. Lunges usually bother my knees, but I haven't had any trouble with these sections, maybe because they are moderately-paced or held, stationary lunges.
The next series is pilates. I'm not a pilates expert but I love that the exercises here are a bit different such as leg circles with both legs. I find this version easier to do effectively and can really feel it in my abs, much more so than the usual single leg circles. I love that the bicycle twist is done slowly and held to a count of four. For an ab lover like myself this is candy... but it's also a more effective way to do this exercise.
The last series of exercises is yoga-based. It includes plank and side plank work, an interesting combo of boat with toe taps, and some cobra and locust inspired back work. There's one delicious side stretch with your legs tucked to one side where you raise one arm and slowly bring it down and thread it through your supporting arm that I just love. It's simple, feel-good elements like this that, for me, make the workout fly by.
I used to skip the cool down but have since realized that it's so short there's no reason to not do it. It's just a few minutes of simple twists and stretches.
The workout is filmed on a beach with two background exercisers. One shows modifications. From warm-up through cool down is about 27 minutes with the chapters running about 6 minutes each (the cool down is shorter). There's also a bonus cardio segment but I've never done it so I can't comment on it. The chaptering allows you to do one or more sections but I've found that once I get started I don't want to stop. It's a good 25 minutes of lower intensity, non-traditional ab work. If you're the type of exerciser who likes the fast-paced crunches you get with a Cathe or Firm workout then this DVD may not be for you. But if you're looking for a fun and effective way to work your abs I can't think of anything better.
Perhaps I have a thing for Aussie accents (I'm a big Keli Roberts fan too) but I just love Violet Zaki. She looks fit and beautiful in a healthy, natural way. And she has a calm energy that is encouraging without being distracting. There's only one point in the workout where her cuing falters, at least that I've noticed, when she simply says "again" and doesn't add "on the other side." Once you know the routine, it's no big deal. I wish she'd put out more workouts.
Creative Advanced Routine
Self has created a strong sexy progressive workout to take you through a variety of exercises that will quickly tone your abs. The stability ball is not essential if you adapt those exercises with an exercise ring or just skip leaning on the ball and do the exercises on the floor. A set of weights and a mat are needed to complete the exercises.
Stretching is interspersed throughout the workout and it gives you a much needed rest between the more intense exercises. The exercises are taught well and then the instructor quickly raises the intensity. The addition of weights and raising the arms takes this workout to an intermediate to advanced routine.
Strong graceful moves make each exercise super efficient. The variety keeps your interest and there are creative adaptations for familiar exercises. Advice is given on how to stabilize your neck and the warm-up helps you to ease into the movements.
Routine:
Warming Up
Stability Ball
Pilates Abs
Yoga Abs
Cooldown
I think they could have made this much more adaptable because they have three women working out and there are few modifications for beginners. This is mostly an intermediate to advanced workout with an emphasis on Yoga stretching and Pilates conditioning.
I felt like I was only working out for about 15 minutes, so this seems to go fast and the creativity kept my attention. The wonderful beach setting is relaxing and healing.
If you are at the advanced level, you may think this is 5 stars for the balance challenges.
I was initially disappointed with this video because it feels like it was cut short, it should have been 45-60 minutes. But, I revisited it when I wasn't up to my full hour workout. Really, for the 30-35 minutes, it's a good workout. I like Ellen Barrett, she does a very nice job cueing and in keeping the workout moving, this is somewhat similar to her Burn & Firm Crunch Pilates workout. I worked up a sweat, but wasn't ready to stop when the video was over. The bonus was pretty short. To make this work for you, I would combine it with an Abs workout to get a full 60 minutes. I purchased the new Crunch Abs, but haven't tried it yet. I plan to combine the two. More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 10 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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I am extremely happy with this workout! The moves are graceful, and I love that. But don't be fooled, you WILL feel it the next day if you are an intermediate/somewhat advanced like me. Ellen is a wonderful instructor, with better instruction than many. I have done this several times now, and at the end during the weight segment I keep thinking... ONE MORE SET??? However, it feels so good to finish strong, and it is only 35 minuts long so keep with it and give it your all!
The only complaint I have is the skinny rail featured on the front of the DVD...it seems like the normal gimmick in magazines though, and that's not what I am going for... I am working on my toned curves!! She is not in the video though which is good (I doubt she could keep up)... Ellen (the instructor)... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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This was a challenging and effective lower body toning workout lead by a good instructor. I liked the variety of exercises and the yoga component at the end. This is a good 40 minute lower body routine to put in a monthly rotation. I would consider it to be intermediate level More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Okay, instead of "repetitive" some might actually call this workout "boring", which I probably would if it wasn't working my lower half so tough that I was screeching my teeth at various points. No, it's not gonna work your butt only - I mean, over 20 minutes of nothing but squats, plies and lounges are quite tough on your legs as well. And that is ALL you get in the standing work part of the DVD. Unless it's the first time you're making an attempt at firming your butt, you must've done all of them a million times. Doing them with Ms. Munoz, though, will make you do more repetitions than you normally would, making you work those muscles harder than usual.
Don't expect any great surprises during those more than 15 minutes of mat work either - do expect an unusual number of... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Dolores Munoz DVD Release Date: Released the 07 September 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The Abs Diet Workout has been enjoying favorable reactions from many users, and it's easy to see why, as "host" and fitness trainer Tom Holland has designed a regimen that's brisk, efficient, thorough, and fun. Disregard the hype that calls it "a way of life" instead of simply a diet or exercise program. On the other hand, Holland's claim that The Abs Diet Workout will increase metabolism and help lose fat and build muscle is very likely true, assuming one dutifully does the exercises and follows the diet guidelines and menus as directed. The exercise portion offers a brief warmup (running in place, jumping jacks, simulated jump rope), followed by a choice of three abdominal routines; the latter vary in difficulty from beginner to advanced, but all three are designed to work... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 03 May 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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